Book Review: Doctor Sleep

The Shining is regarded as one of the greatest horror stories of all time. Its author, Stephen King, is known as the king of horror stories, and rightly so.

 

Carrie, It, Pet Sematary… They have scared the bejeezus out of millions of people over the past four decades. But The Shining was the one that people would always ask King about.

 

“What happened to Danny from The Shining?!” is a question King has said he has been asked frequently since the books release in 1977. The author has admitted himself that the issue never really left him.

 

It has only taken 36 years, but King has finally gone and done it. Avid fans of The Shining will be hoping King has finally answered those all important questions: what happened to Danny, Wendy and Dick Hallorann, and do the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel still haunt the talented little boy who shined?

 

The answer: Yes.

 

To reach The Shining’s quality was going to be a tough ask, even for someone as qualified as King. But it was important that any follow-up did two things: answer the right questions, and retain the spirit of the original. King manages to do both.

 

Firstly: all the main players of The Shining are involved, or mentioned, someway or another, so there whereabouts are dealt with. You can all breathe now!

 

Danny ‘Doc’ Torrance is now an adult. We catch Dan in a real rough patch to begin with, but then we are taken on a journey with him that continues into his forties and happier times.

The plot of Doctor Sleep revolves around Dan, a young girl and some Vampire-esq creatures, who are not exactly Vampires, but are not human… You will get the picture if you read it. They are the bad guys – that is all you need to know at this stage.

 

King encapsulates the past (The Overlook Hotel) with the present perfectly. Although it lacks the scare-factor of The Shining and other King classics, Doctor Sleep still has the potential to make people squirm in their seats.

 

It is a real journey we undertake with Dan; one which goes full circle. He is a troubled man, but as the book goes on, your feelings for the little boy we read about being tormented in The Overlook Hotel all those years ago will grow to a position of respect and admiration.

 

It may take you some time to get fully engrossed into King's latest novel, but stick with it. Slowly but surely you will get gripped, with an excellent twist heading your way in the latter stages.

 

Doctor Sleep is a very enjoyable follow-up to a classic. King has done a very good job in tying up the loose ends of The Shining in a way no one would have expected.

 

7/10

24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenge for Mind: 3 Mountains, 43 People, Rubbish Weather & The Scafell Seven

I can not tell a lie; I am feeling a little delicate today.

A lack of sleep, sore feet and the fact I still have a bit of a cold does leave you feeling a little groggy. However, the experiences of the past few days make it all worth wild. To our professional guides' own admittance, it was one of the more dramatic three peaks challenges they have took part on.

Weather conditions, problems with coaches, sickness, injuries, mountain rescue drama (not from our group, fortunately); it was a rather more eventful challenge than anyone would have hoped, but it all certainly added to the experience.

We arrived in Scotland at gone 8pm where we quickly settled into our accommodation for the night. My first thought on seeing my bed was that it looked a lot like being in a Nazi bunker! After eating very little of my meal (fussy eater problems) from the surprisingly fancy pub/restaurant situated at the bunk house it was time to go back to the accommodation and get some shut eye before departing for Fort William at 6:30am to begin the challenge.

We began our ascent of Ben Nevis at 7:10am and after the first 30-40 minutes we were quickly split into four groups that were dependant on our position on the mountain at the time. After just failing to make it into the front pack (I tried and failed to put on waterproof trousers which cost me my position/time and I never fully caught up) I was put in group two. Ben Nevis was a frustrating one as we lost a lot of time. Conditions were not great, but sadly injuries (and a race of 200-plus people taking place) meant that we had stop many times for people to catch up. The mountain itself was great, though. The weather was bad on the way up, but nice on the way down. Unfortunately the weather at the summit was poor so it spoilt the views that surrounded us, but when they were visible it was pretty darn spectacular.

So as we reached the coaches back at the bottom of Ben Nevis we were already well behind the time. We reached Scafell Pike and began the climb at around 9pm knowing we really had to get a move on to catch up. After another stop-start beginning to our ascent we were given an ultimatum over timing which saw only seven (out of nineteen who attempted the mountain) continue to try and make up some time and bomb on to attempt to get as near to the top as possible. Known now as the 'Scafell Seven' we managed to do it in great time and were able to get to the top before the final cut off time for the mountain. This was my own personal highlight of the trip as we looked dead and buried (in regards to time), but we managed it and I was with such a great bunch of people too, which made it even better. Plans of a movie aptly named the 'Scafell Seven' are now in the pre-production stages. James Franco will be playing myself. This is where conversations turn too when its dark, wet, late and your descending down a mountain... We (the seven of us) had given ourselves a chance again of completing all three peaks, although time was still most definitely against us.

Scafell Pike itself was horrible and I wouldn't rush back up there. The conditions really were not good at all. Despite being the smallest of the three, it is the steepest and very rocky under foot. Given that it was dark and very wet, this made it pretty dangerous, especially on descent. A bit of drama was also happening around us in the dark as mountain rescue had to be called to find two lost hikers (not members of our group). Fortunately the guide of group one was lucky enough to find them before the rescue services got there.

We knew time was not on our side as we headed to Wales to climb Snowdon. Unfortunately for a few of us some of our bags had been mixed up as the drivers (whilst we were out walking) had decided to move us on to a different coach. This meant that for myself all my clean clothes and some of my food (as well as my mobile) were temporarily unavailable to me as I got back from climbing Scafell Pike, which was not ideal. Thankfully the kind souls on the coach offered me food and water, so it was not all bad.

 

 

 Our arrival at the foot of Snowdon was at around 7:20-30am. Thankfully 'The Scafell Seven' were kept together along with a few others and we made it up to a rather murky and cold summit. When it was visible, the views were brilliant. Unfortunately the weather was against us in regards to seeing anything at all from the top. A few of the group decided to get the train back down as the rest of us continued the descent on foot. Knowing that we were not going to complete it within the allowed time frame to classify it as completed within 24 hours was a disappointment, but the remainder of us ('The Scafell Seven') plus a couple of others were just determined to make sure we completed it. Snowdon was my second favourite of the three, behind Ben Nevis. The weather spoilt the views but the rocky, wet surfaces meant I did end up on my backside! It still blows my mind there's a cafe/shop on top of it too.

The weather/road conditions as well as injuries to members of the group meant that we lost a lot of time. I was told on completion that we lost around two hours just on the road itself due to the drivers having to go slower, which with all the other factors did nothing to help our cause.17 of us, including 'The Scafell Seven' and the majority of group one, were the only ones out of the 43 participants to climb all three peaks. The major disappointment, which left many of us frustrated, is that we were unable to complete it in the time required due to circumstances out of our own control. If things had not conspired against us we would have made it, which is rather annoying. Regardless though, it really was a great experience.

I am yet to know the exact total of my fundraising efforts, but it has definitely smashed the targeted £550 mark. This makes it so worthwhile and I would just like to thank everyone again who donated/has promised to donate. It is greatly appreciated and it really does go towards a fantastic cause!

So the dramatic weekend is over and now it's back to reality. I met some amazing people of which I hope to stay in touch with and it was an experience, for many reasons, that I will not forget for a long, long time. A few of us are already talking about doing the challenge again, so watch this space!

If anyone else would like to donate then you can still do so at my sponsorship page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Milkwasabadchoice&isTeam=true

Thank you.

Matt.

(First six: Ben Nevis. Final five: Snowden.)

IT'S TIME! 24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenge weekend... READY, STEADY, GO!

 

Just a quick one...

IT'S FINALLY ARRIVED!!! Shame I've been struck down with a cold, but that's life... (Excuses in already...) I'm really looking forward to the weekend and (hopefully) completing the UK 24 Hour Three Peaks Challenge. It's something I've wanted to do for so long and it's finally here! WOOP! (Sorry for whopping...)

I'll be leaving early tomorrow morning to meet up with the rest of the group in Chester ahead of the LONG drive to Scotland. We're meeting at 11:30am and scehduled to arrive at our camp near Ben Nevis for the night at around 8pm, so there's plenty of book reading time (I'm taking The Night Circus with me) ti be had on the coach. We start the challenge at approximately 7:30am on Saturday morning and we hope to finish early Sunday morning in Wales after climbing Snowden. It's going to be a very long 24 hours, that's for sure.

I'm going to rock the crap out of that headtorch...

So I should be back home for mid-late afternoon/early evening time on Sunday. All I'll want then is a big tub of chocolate fudge brownie Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Or as it is commonly known 'God's dessert'. (Yes, I made that up! I'm so funny...)

Thank you all so much once again for your donations/donation promises/best wishes. I'm hoping to smash the £550 mark comfortably, which is just fantastic and makes it all so worthwhile. Not to sound like a broken record, but Mind is such a fantastic charity who do so much for people struggling with mental health difficulties. It's an issue that means a lot to me because of my own personal problems surrounding OCD and depression, so raising awareness is a big deal for me. I look forward to meeting everyone taking part tomorrow.

Last ditch attempt to pull on the heartstrings... They've given rain in Scotland on Saturday. Not. Good.

My fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Milkwasabadchoice&isTeam=true.

Here's my story: http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/8483_walking_the_three_peaks_challenge_for_mind

For anyone who might be interested, I'll try and do as much tweeting as I can (signal/battery dependant), so if you want to track our progress then @WalkingforMind is the account to follow.

The aim:

To have climbed Ben Nevis (1,344m), Scafell Pike (877m) and Snowdon (1,067m) within 24 hours (slightly over due to legal constraints). Each mountain is the biggest in its country and the overall challenge will consist of approximately 25 miles of hiking and 480 miles of travelling between Scotland, England and Wales.

The proposed timeframe for the challenge:

Friday 6th September:

11:30am: Meet at Chester and travel to Scotland for overnight accomodation in the Ben Nevis area.

Saturday 7th September:

7:30am: Begin ascent of Ben Nevis

12:45pm: Return to the minibus and head back down South to England to head to Scafell Pike.

6:45pm: Begin ascent of Scafell Pike. (Night walking! Headtorches at the ready...)

Sunday 8th September:

12am: Return to the minibus and head to Wales to climb Snowdon.

4am: Begin ascent of Snowdon (headtorches required again!)

8:20am: Hope to have finished Snowdon and be having a celebratory breakfast!

Thank you all.

Matt.

PS/ If you read this, thank you for lending me your iPod for the weekend, Loobs. Greatly appreciated, albeit slightly disappointed at the lack of T-Swizz.

Time Flies... T-Minus 26 Days! (UK 24 Hour Three Peaks Challenge Countdown)

This time in four weeks I hope to be sat down in front of the telly box with a huge tub of chocolate fudge brownie flavoured Ben & Jerry's ice cream toasting a job well done rather than a commiserative 'I got knackered after one mountain and had to stop' prize.

Time really does fly. It only seems like yesterday I finished my degree and now with the trek insight, starting my Masters course is only just round the corner.

I have been looking forward to doing the UK 24 Hour Three Peaks Challenge for a long time. I would have liked to have done it earlier in the summer, but with uni it was diffcult to commit the time needed to train/fundraise.


With the money I have recieved and what I have been promised by others, I'm really close to the £550 fundraising mark I need to reach for Mind. If I can get there before I head off to Scotland on September 6th it would just be amazing. Mind's a fantastic charity who do such great work in helping people struggling with mental health problems. It is a cause very close to my own heart for reasons I shared in a Mind blog post back in March. Mental health is something I have had to deal with first hand and something I am still dealing with now. Thankfully I am most certainly on the up, feeling better and a hell of a lot more like myself than I have done for a long, long time. Hopefully, after spending over nine months (of a third spell) so far on anti-depressants, I'll be able to come off them in the not so distant future. 


Unfortunately not everyone is in my situation. I am lucky not just that I am feeling a lot better, but I was able to get treatment; both in regards to medication and CBT for both OCD and depression. Not everyone is so fortunate and that is why charities like Mind are so important in not just raising awareness, but supporting people in dire need of help. Your money, if you are able to donate anything at all, will not go to waste. It really is vital what they (Mind) provide to so many people.

On that note, I'd like to once again congratulate everyone behind the brilliant BBC Three two-part programme Extreme OCD Camp. It was great to see OCD portrayed in the 'right' way, rather than the misguided stereotypes other shows such as Channel 4's Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners reinforced. The six participants Imogen, Jack, Megan, Andrew, Olivia and Josh deserve so much credit for what they did. They deserve all the praise they've been getting! On a personal note, it was fantastic to recieve such positive feedback from some of the guys involved, as well as Pete the camp leader, about the reviews I wrote for Mind about the show. It was rather humbling, but it was extremely easy to write such positive reviews after they put together such a marvelous show.


If anyone's interested in reading my reviews:

Episode One: http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/9328_what_i_thought_of_extreme_ocd_camp
Episode Two: http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/9379_extreme_ocd_camp_episode_two


A few other shout outs:

From tomorrow I will be taking over the Making Mental Heath Positive Twitter account,
so please give them a follow. (Best to put my Twitter addiction to better use...)

(Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakingMentalHealthPositive)

Also I'd best not forget the OCD Action Youth Network saying as I'm a member of the panel (YAP)... So please give us a follow on Twitter as we look to increase awareness of the disorder amongst the younger generations.

So yeah, the next 26 days are now being classified as 'Three Peaks Extreme Training'. It's time to pull the old exercise bike from the shed I reckon.

If anyone would like to donate to my page you can find the link here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Milkwasabadchoice&isTeam=true.

Any sort of donation would just be extremely appreciated. Thank you all so much to those who have already donated!

Here's the time frame of the walk:


Friday 6th September:

Meet at Chester and travel to Scotland for overnight accomodation in the Ben Nevis area.

Saturday 7th September:

7:30am: Begin ascent of Ben Nevis

12:45pm: Return to the minibus and head back down South to England to head to Scafell Pike.

6:45pm: Begin ascent of Scafell Pike. (Night walking!)

Sunday 8th September:

12am: Return to the minibus and head to Wales to climb Snowdon.

4am: Begin ascent of Snowdon (headtorches required!)

8:20am: Hope to have finished Snowdon and be having a celebratory breakfast!



Cheers everyone.

Matt.

 

Book Reviews

Whilst I am sat waiting at home for the courier service to arrive to take the majority of my history books away forever (hopefully), I thought I would write a blog about some (non-history) books I have read this year.

Anyone who I have spoken to in the past on the issue of reading knows that prior to this year commencing it was not a favourite hobby of mine. It had for a long time been something I wanted to do more of, but due to certain circumstances (eg. OCD: having to re-read words/lines numerous times/lack of concentration) reading was often a frustrating past-time.

With issues such as the above now nearly resoloved, reading (for fun) has become a much easier activity to endure and is something I now enjoy. I have told many people about my track record when it comes to books. Before this year I have only probably finished a handful of books in my life. I would approximate at the maximum being 5 or 6 (that number goes up everytime!) This year I have smashed all sorts of Matt Watson reading records. I'm currently past the 20 mark in regards to books I have completed and have a fair few more lined up. When you find a good book with an engaging story you can get lost in it as like with a film, of which I am a lot more used too. I have discovered that The Shining is not just one of my favourite films, but it is also my favourite book, despite their differences.Thank you Messrs Kubrick and King.

Anyways, the point of this blog other than to kill some time is to reccomend a couple of books that I have read that I think other people may enjoy.

So here we go in no particular order:

1. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Dissapeared  (Auther: Jonas Jonasson)

This is Jonas Jonasson's debut novel and is a rather crazy, yet funny and very charming tale of a 100 year old Swedish man named Allan Karlsson who climbs out of his retirement home window and goes on the run. I'd highly reccomend this book to anyone who likes their history, as the story alternates chapter by chapter between following Karlson on his adventorous and darn right crazy present and the amazing past he has lived. His laid-back attitude to life has seen him come through and survive some of the biggest historical events that have occurred in the 20th century and is probably why he still keeps going at the age of 100.

A really enjoyable book and I think most people will fly through it. Highly reccomended.





2. The Universe versus Alex Woods (Author: Gavin Extence)

This is another debut novel, this time by English writer Gavin Extence. It follows a boy called Alex Woods through his teenager years. Alex is involved in a very extrodianry accident that leaves him in a coma for two weeks and which changes his life forever. Due to large amounts of school time he has off school and subseqently the lack of friends he has acquired, Alex is a very socially-awkward teen who has a thirst for science and is well known throughout his home town for the accident that occurred to him when he was younger. One day when chased by school bullies, events lead him to the backyard of an old American man named Mr Peterson which leads to the pair striking up an unlikely friendship that ends in a very emotional ending to the book. Warm, quirky, funny, but yet ulitmately a tale that ends in sadness. It is another book I flew through quite quickly as it is very easy to engage with. I would reccomend this to you if you're into something a little different.





3. The Fault in Our Stars (Author: John Green)

This book is emotional but uplifting in its own quirky, humerous way of which from what I've been told is John Green's usual way of writing. The book follows the story of cancer sufferer Hazel Grace Lancaster as she deals with the daily reality of her terminal condition. As she once again attends a cancer support group, of which she hates, she meets a young man called Augustus Waters, who at the time is in a state of remission. Things for Hazel start to change very rapidly after that encounter. At its essense it is a love story, but it is so much more than that. The pairs views on life and the universe are inspiring and insightful and turn what is ultimiately a very sad tale into a book also full of humour, wit and charm. Even I think Augustus Waters is the man after reading this!

The movie adaption of the book is set to come out next year with Shailenne Wooley (The Descendents) playing Hazel and newcomer Ansel Elgort as Agustus. So let us hope it does the book justice as it really is a great read and I would highly reccomend it.

One for Movie Fans:

The Wolf of Wall Street (Author: Jordan Belfort)

Jordan Belfort was a self-made millionaire and this book is a very honest account of how he got there. Drugs, booze, hookers, helicopters, boats and illegal dealings; all normal for the life of a man nicknamed 'The Wolf of Wall Street' by his employees. It is an outragous tale of the rise and fall of a man who had everything, but succumbed to his own self-induced downfall.

January 17th 2014 is the release date for the film adaption of the book which is directed by Martin Scorese and stars Leonardo Di Caprio, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughy. If they get it right it could well be a cracker. Given its release date being in award season territory, they obviously fancy their chances.

 

One for Football Lovers:

Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning (The Biography)
(Author: Guillem Ballague)

Spanish football correspondant and journalist Guillem Ballague has gained a rare insight into the mindset of Barcelona's most successful coach, Pep Guardiola. It gives a very intriguing view into the day to day running of the club under Guardiola's guidance and their meteroic rise to the very top of the footballing world. Whatever is said about the tools Guardiola had at his disposal, Ballague has demenstrated emphatically the genius, dedication and thoroughness of a man who is obsessed with the game of football, as well as his footballing philosophy for the beautiful game and that without Pep the success they achieved in that period would not have happened.

If you are a tika taka enthusiast like me, this is a perfect book to get your football brains into.


My current read is Stephen King's Carrie, which I am quite enjoying. The book is once again being adapted to a film, this time starring Julianne Moore and Chloe Grace Moretz. The release date has been set for November 29th 2013.

If anyone has any reccomendations of their own, please let me know. You can tweet me @MattWatson91.

If you would like to borrow one of these books (if you know me, that is), I would be more than happy to lend you any of them. They are just sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust.

Happy reading!

Wingerworth Victorious: Wingerworth JSA Mind Charity Football Day(02/06/13)

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who came to the day and I hope you all had a great time. Thankfully the weather was fantastic, although it left a few of us players with sunburn afterwards.

The point of the day was to raise money for Mind and thanks to your fantastic support and the help of Wingerworth Junior Sports Association we did just that. The funds from the raffle and the match itself go towards my fundraising efforts for Mind in doing the 24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenge in September, whilst the money made from the shop went to the football club. I would have been pleased to make any sort of amount for Mind, but to raise £312.20 was very pleasing. Again, thank you very much for your support.

The U16's lost to the U18's 5-4 in a game that saw me come out of managerial retirement to pick up where I left off - losing. The big game between Wingerworth and Mind saw the more experienced Wingerworth team pick up a 2-0 win over the younger, but clearly less fit, Mind team. I will always maintain our attacking style hindered us! Both games were played in a really good spirit and everyone seemed to have fun, which is the main thing. I would like to hold my hands up for the first goal as it was slack defending on my behalf. Sorry lads!

My thanks also go out to all the fantastic helpers on the day, but I would like to pay a special thank you to my good friend Adam Pike. Without him the day would not have panned out as it did. His modesty will not let him take any praise though, bless him. Also a shout-out must go out to Geoff and Liz Lord who also played key roles in organising the day. Thanks guys! But for everyone who came and helped out, it was very much appreciated.

If anyone would like to donate the sponsorship link is: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Milkwasabadchoice

Information on the 24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenge can be found here: http://www.mind.org.uk/get_involved/fundrasing_events/uk_challenges/4764_uk_three_peaks_challenge_2013

I will keep you all updated on the hike in September.

Thank you for your support.

Matt.

Twitter: @WalkingforMind




Some pictures from the day...

The Next Midfield Maestro: Kicking a Ball Around for Mind

SUNDAY JUNE 2ND @ THE AVENUE, WINGERWORTH, S42 6NB

TEAM MIND V TEAM WINGERWORTH JSA

KICK OFF: 3PM

TICKETS: £1 ON THE GATE (INCLUDES ENTRY INTO THE RAFFLE)

IN AID OF MIND (24 UK THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE FUNDRAISING)

Hello all, it's been too long...

Here's me holding the out-of-date poster... Nice one Matt!

I am coming out of retirement for one game only. Yes, yes, don't all get too excited! I have not played a proper 11-a-side game of football for eight years and at that I used to play in net. In no way is this my reasoning for putting on this match. Nope, not at all... I have been managing a youth side for the past three seasons and if you asked any of my lads they'd tell you how utterly rubbish I am out net and there is NO WAY ON THIS EARTH that I'm going in goal for this match. That's why you should all come down and witness the horror of me making a fool out of myself by being out-paced by middle-aged men. Na, I'll show you all. The perfect blend of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso is how I see myself...

Anyways, the important stuff. Why are we having a charity football match, you ask? Well, my friends, that's a very good question! I am taking part in the 24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenge for the incredible charity Mind later this year. I am now doing the event in September (6th-8th) rather than June 'cos I have done very little fundraising with being busy with uni and all that. So yes, I am putting this together with my very good friend Adam and some lovely helpers from Wingerworth JSA to try and raise some money towards my total for the hike. Most of my friends know why I'm doing this and to those who have given me a donation and to those who have promised too, as well as the ones who say they'll attend the match, thank you very much. To the guys who have agreed to play in the match I am also very grateful. You're all awesome - thank you! If you want to read my reasonings for doing this then click here.

The main event will be taking place at 3pm and it'll be a Mind x11 versus a Wingerworth JSA x11. But that's not all that'll be happening on the day. Oh no! The girls teams will be coming down at midday for a match and we'll hopefully be running other games/activities throughout the day like a penalty shoot-out. Who doesn't like a penalty shoot-out?

It is £1 to get in on the gate and this will enter you straight into the raffle that will be drawn after the game. We're also hopeful of having a BBQ and getting various kinds of drink down at The Avenue, so let's hope for a sunny day! We'll also be awarding the man of the match, so players put in a good shift!

The game will take place at The Avenue on Sunday June 2nd and everyone is welcome. Bring your friends, sisters, uncles, cousins, neighbours, just anyone, and let's raise a bucket load of money for a great cause.

Come on and get yourself down! Have some food, chill out, watch the footy and see my fantastic white as a ghost legs on full display. Yes ladies, I know, I know - contain yourselves!

If you would like to donate anything prior to the game my sponsor form is: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Milkwasabadchoice

You can also find my fundraising exploits on Facebook and Twitter. Give us an add/follow please!

Cheers folks.

Matt.

PS/ My good friend James Muddiman will be there. Check out his amazing paintings on the day! He's such an awesome artist.

Myself, Mental Health and A Great Big Walk

Happy St Patrick's Day y'all!

Today I am here to talk about three things: The 24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenge, Depression and OCD.

I was the guest blogger for Mind recently where I talked about my own experiences with Depression and OCD as well as the reasons as to why I am taking part in UK Three Peaks Challenge for Mind this coming June. The feedback I got was lovely; albeit that certainly was not the purpose of the blog.

Talking about such things is never easy, but I guess it is a form of therapy in itself. One little blog can not change the stigma around mental health and nor can it inspire a nation. I just hope people can relate to it; like some of the fantastic blogs and articles I have read on mental health over the last few years.

I have applied to be apart of the 'OCD at School' Youth Advisory Panel of which I am very keen to be apart of. I began to struggle with OCD whilst at 6th Form and it is vitally important that we can help spread the message and raise awareness amongst the younger generations as I have seen first hand the ignorance and naivity there is amongst younger people in regards to mental health. I would urge anyone passionate in this issue to think about applying.


A message from the Peak District...

Rightio; the walk. It's 2 1/2 months away and I have still got loads to do. I need to raise a bucket load of money and I have done very little towards reaching my total. Woops! I blame uni. I am hoping to put together a charity football match towards the end of May/start of June and potentially do something else. A karaoke night perhaps? If anyone has any suggestions then please get in touch. I have had several friends promise donations of which I am very greatful; but I need more! I will leave you all alone for a long while (in regards to fundraising) if you can help me reach my target of £550. I will do a lot of things (nothing rude) in my quest for that target. I will wear stupid things, do silly challenges; whatever. Let me know and get sponsoring. PLEASE!

My sponorship page is: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Milkwasabadchoice&isTeam=true

My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MattdoestheUKThreePeaksChallenge

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattWatson91

Well that is my begging done for the day. But seriously, it is going to an amazing cause. That is not me just saying it for the sake of it. Mind really does do a fanastic job in supporting people suffering with mental health problems; whether that be through helping find people treatment, offering information or simply being there to listen to someone in need. 50p, £1, £10; whatever you can afford. Please.

I will leave you with a video that you should all watch. It is made by the lovely Claire Wilkinson who is a local filmmaker and is currently putting together the already award-winning documentary 'Living With Me And My OCD' of which she has been working long and hard on for a while now and it is looking great (even if I am in it!) Claire suffers with OCD herself and is very keen on defeating the stigma surrounding the disorder. I have had the pleasure of meeting her on more than one occasion and after listening to her ideas I can guarantee that this documetary will be fantastic. You can follow Living With Me And My OCD on Twitter and Facebook, as well as visitng its own website.

Living With Me And My OCD trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thviahdlNp0

Thanks all again for reading. If anyone wants to read my blog for Mind you can find it below.

 My blog:

http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/8483_walking_the_three_peaks_challenge_for_mind

'I do like to walk. I have taken part in a couple of hikes for charity now and it is a great way to stay fit and raise money, this year for a cause that is very close to my own heart, Mind.

I cannot wait to get going. The Three Peaks is a challenge that I have wanted to do for a while and I cannot wait to see the lovely views of Snowdon, the rain around Ben Nevis and the darkness of Scafell Pike (head-torch required!) Not many know the reason why I am doing the challenge for Mind, as it is a personal one, but I finally want to open about it.

The previous two years have been an interesting one. Diagnosed with OCD at 19, after suffering with the disorder since 16, it all became too much. After finally opening up to my family and doctor, I received CBT and then later medication.

My OCD, at its peak was quite varied and I found it completely overwhelming. Repetition (words and actions), checking (taps, doors and appliances) and hygiene (washing and cleaning) were the three main types of compulsions I suffered from. My confidence and self-esteem were zapped. Having OCD I feel tired, frustrated and ultimately like a freak, when I shouldn't have. It took a while for the techniques from CBT to take effect as I was essentially re-training my brain, whilst the medication took the edge off of my anxiety.

Skip forwards two years and I have managed to cut the majority of my compulsions out. I still have my moments, but they are less frequent and anxiety-driven. However, last year something else happened; something that had been coming for a while. I was diagnosed with depression.

My doctor told me it is common that people with anxiety-disorders also suffer with depression. I began to feel very low and the feeling would not shift. It had been building its way up since the end of my second year at university. I was anxious, frustrated and riddled with negative thoughts and my opinion of myself was lower than ever, in regards to both appearance and character. It is, people tell me, a distorted view, one which has built over a long period of time and is hard to shift.
Going back to university in September did not help. The pressure pushed me over the edge - I felt destined to fail. After talking with university about my options, they were very good with me and offered support. Once again, as I still am now, I was put on medication and referred for CBT.

Being open about my illness has been something I have found difficult in the past, although when I did I found it really helped. I have always thought it was my own battle and that I had to deal with it by myself, but that is not true. CBT and medication continues, but slowly but surely, I am making forward strides. I still have bad spells and days when I feel like it is me against the world, but they are getting less frequent. Hopefully it will not be long until I feel myself again. It has been a long time coming.

Depression and anxiety can hit anyone, whatever their situation, and it can make you feel like your world has been turned upside down. Talking about it can be hard and can take time; I know that from personal experience. I have vowed to myself to be more open and this is a good starting point.

I am determined to raise as much money as possible for Mind through the Three Peaks Challenge and help raise awareness in any way I can. I have sought help and am hopefully on the road to recovery, but others are not so lucky and have no one to turn to.

Mind offers great support and information for sufferers and their families to access in times of need. It is a fantastic charity who need all the support they can get, so if you could give anything to help then please visit my Facebook page and sponsorship form.Thank you.
Matt'

OSCARS TIME!

It is that time of year again; THE OCSARS TIME! Who will win a shiney golden statue? Stay up until 1:30am on Monday morning to find out...

We tried to film a podcast for Film Trance (blatant plug) about The Oscars but it went horribly wrong. So yeah, I just fancied making some predictions for the big show on here. There is too many different awards to go through, so I've just picked out what, in my opinion, are the six of the top awards. Let me know what you think and who you reckon will will/should win.

Right...

 

BEST DIRECTOR:

Who I want to win: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)

Who I think will win: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)

With the surprise exclusion of Ben Affleck from this catagory as well as the shameful snub of Tom Hooper, Spielberg is free to pick up his latest Oscar with biopic Lincoln.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Who I want to win: Anne Hathaway (Les Mis) or Sally Field (Lincoln)

Who I think will win: Anne Hathaway (Les Mis)

Hathaway has had a very successful awards season and no-one is looking past her to pick up yet another award tomorrow night. Yes she was only on screen for fifteen minutes, but by heck, it was a good fifteen minutes! Sally Field also deserves recognisition for her role in Lincoln as Mary-Todd Licoln. Her vunerability counterbalanced DDL's portryal of Lincoln extremely well.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Who I want to win: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)

Who I think will win: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)


Hans Landa x2. If you loved him in Inglorious Basterds like I did, you will love him in this. A top class performance. Suave, but deadly.

 

 

 

 

Best LEADING ACTRESS:

Who I want to win: Naomi Watts (The Impossible)

Who I think will win: Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)

Naomi Watts' performance in The Impossible was EMOSH. However, I reckon we will be seeing the oldest ever Oscar winner come Sunday evening/Monday morning in Emmanuelle Riva.

BEST LEADING ACTOR:

Who I want to win: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) or Denzel Washington (Flight)

Who I think will win: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)

Bradley Cooper was the man in SLP. He tackled a tough issue and brought sensitivity with a touch of light hearted humour to the role. Denzel was just superb in Flight. The pain, the self-loathing... Brilliant. I think everyone is excpecting DDL to walk away with it though. A worthy winner, but not my personal favourite performance.

BEST FILM:

Who I want to win: Les Misérables

Who I think will win: Lincoln

I love Les Mis. I loved the stageshow and I loved the film. I'm not going to compare the two, as they're different artforms, but I felt Hooper delivered bigstyle. Powerful, emotional and the songs were performed (and shot) brilliantly. Argo has cleaned up this catagory during awards season, but with Affleck not being up for best director I feel there may be a surprise on the cards.






If you can stay awake, it is being shown on Sky Movies at just before 1:30am. I think it is is on the special Oscars channel they have created.

Walk da' Walk (Update One)

Hello all.




*BLATANT PLUG ALERT WITH ADDED WEIRD FACIAL EXPRESSION*

Yes, the name of my blog has changed yet again. Why, no one asks? Well, it will no longer be a film blog (that latest long) and I will now use it for blatant plugging for the charity hike I am undertaking in the summer. Apologies in advance.

With just over four months to go until the hike I thought I'd best start doing some good ol' fundraising. Twitter, Facebook and begging are the methods I will be using most often to attempt to reach the goal of £550, which is going to be really tough. There is the possibility that me and a friend, who is doing a charity hike too, will be co-hosting a charity event later in the year, but that is yet to be determined. So, anyways...

It had been a rather wet and windy day in Cumbria...

This year it appears I will be on my own for the hike. My best friend Adam has joined me the last two years, whilst my brother and his fiancee kindly joined us last year to do the Hadrian's Wall Trek. I really enjoyed doing the treks the previous two years, albeit last years was spoilt by the horrible weather. Doing the Yorkshire Three Peaks was great the year before. The views were fantastic and despite being bitten to pieces, it was well worth it. I think this will be my last one for a while as I feel bad asking for money each year off of you lovely people. We've really appreciated the support over the past two years. One more big push would be greatly appreciated though! The UK 24 Hour Three Peaks Challenge is something I have wanted to do for a while and I'm really excited that I get the chance to do it for Mind. It's a fantastic cause and something that is very close to my own heart, so I'm chuffed that they are putting it on and I can't wait to get going with it.

Ben Nevis

The walk itself takes place between the 14th-16th June. The aim is to climb the biggest peak in each of Scotland, England and Wales inside 24 hours. I will be meeting the mini-bus at Chester Train Station on the Friday where we (the gang of us representing Mind) will all then head up to Scotland to spend the night ahead of attempted to hike up Ben Nevis the following morning. After completing the biggest of the three peaks we will then be heading South to Cumbria to climb Scafell Pike, which will have to be completed during the night. The final part of the challenge will see us head to Wales for a bright and early 4am (approximately) start to climb Snowdon, of which I have been told the views are spectacular. We are hoping to be finished for before 9am so we can have a nice celebratory breakfast and then head back to the train station. So yeah, the trek will consist of approximately 25 miles of hiking (11,000ft altogether), 3 countries and approximately 480 miles of driving in 24 hours. Good times!

This will get some plugging off of me over the coming months, so get ready for it. Any support would be great and I'd love you forever if you donated. Mind really is a fantastic charity who do an awful lot to help people who are suffering with mental health issues. Retweets on Twitter, shares on Facebook and so forth would be greatly appreciated as well. As you will see below I'm making the most out of the age of social networking. Please give my Facebook page a like and check out my fundraising page. I will also be filming the walk and any fundraisng events prior to the trek, so I will upload those to my YouTube page. If anyone has any ideas over ways I could fundraise then please let me know! So yeah, that's about it. I'm considering writing a piece for Mind closer to the time, but I might yet bottle that. Thank you for taking the time to read this and many thanks to those who have already donated/agreed to donate.



Fundraising Page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Milkwasabadchoice&isTeam=true

(Yes, I did name my fundraising page after an Anchorman quote, and yes I do regret it.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattdoestheUKThreePeaksChallenge

YouTube: MattWatson91

Mind: http://www.mind.org.uk/

Thank you.

Matt.

Review: Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is never afraid to touch upon uneasy subject matters, and in his first film since 2009 blockbuster Inglorious Basterds he is at it again with slavery-based epic Danjo Unchained.

170 minutes of pure Tarantino-ness. Described by many as his most "straightforward film to date", Django Unchained may not have the twists and turns of a Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown, but it will leave you shocked, bewildered and laughing out load in your seat like we have to come to expect from the American's films.

The story revolves around former slave turned bounty hunter Django (Jamie Foxx), who with the help of his owner turned bounty hunting partner Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), sets out to rescue his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from evil plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leanardo DiCaprio). As you would expect, this does not go according to plan and like most Tarantino films all hell breaks loose in extremely violent fashion.

Drawn out, over-the-top and ridiculously violent, but Tarantino always seems to get away with it. Some critics question Tarantino's style, but one thing that can be universally agreed on is that he gets the best out of his cast. Christoph Waltz puts in another Oscar-worthy performance as the German slave sympathising bounty hunter. Like in Inglorious Basterds Waltz portrays an incredibly charming and sophisticated character, but when he needs to be he has an incredibly sinister yet somehow humorous side to him that is perfectly delivered. Jamie Fox leads the movie well, putting in a strong performance, albeit he is out-shone by the marvellous Waltz for the first half of the film. Leonardo DiCaprio puts in a sterling performance as the villain slaveholder who owns the mammoth slave plantation Candieland. It was certainly a different kind of role for DiCaprio, but his blend of charm and ferociousness worked extremely well.

Despite its serious subject matter, humour is never far behind. The Ku Klux Klan scene involving a cameo appearance from Jonah Hill will be something that is remembered for a long time. Samuel L. Jackson is superb as the old timer slave (Stephen) who works at the Candieland plantation. Jackson's first appearance on screen is a memorial one, as he shows of his resentment towards free slave Django in an hilarious interaction with his boss Calvin Candie. One disappointment over cast selection is that of Tarantino himself. His persistence in making cameo appearences in his films is baffling. The outrageously poor Australian accent he tries to deliver will leave you cringing all the way home.

This will not be for everyone's liking, but if you are a die hard Tarantino fan you will not be left disappointed. The film falls short of the incredibly outrageous Inglorious Basterds and the classics of Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, but it is another fine piece of cinema by the a director never afraid to push the boundaries of cinema.

8/10

Review: Les Misérables

Kings Speech director Tom Hooper took on the mammoth task of directing the movie adaption of the world famous musical Les Misérables, which is based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name.

 For those who may not be familiar with the story of Les Misérables, it is a tale set in 19^th century France that follows a man named Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who was imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loath of bread. After being released on parole by the prison guard Javert (Russell Crowe), he faced a life of hardship and shame for his tainted reputation as a thief. Valjean was taken in by a bishop for the night after spotting him walking the streets as no one would give him shelter or work. In the night Valijean took off with the bishops silver but was caught and taken back to the bishop who confirmed to the police that Valjean in fact was given the silver as a gift, offering him a second chance. The bishops generosity saw Valijean vow to break parole and start a new life. Eight years later Valjean had become a successful businessman and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. However, on stumbling upon one of his former employees Fantine (Anne Hathaway), who was very ill and on the verge of arrest, Valjean vowed to look after her daughter Cosette (Isabelle Allen/Amanda Seyfried). Despite taking in Cosette and making a new life for himself, Valijean was always fighting his past.

Although the performances of Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway have deservedly stolen the headlines, this is a film full of top class performances throughout. Hathaway’s highly anticipated rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ was as good as everyone hoped it would be. Despite being only on screen for fifteen minutes, Hathaway has gained nomination after nomination during the awards season and rightly so. Her incredibly powerful performance captured the struggles of Fantine superbly. Jackman’s performance as leading man Valjean is commendable and like Hathaway he has rightly been nominated for all the big awards. His performance of ‘Valjean’s Soliloquy’ is captivatingly sinister and brilliantly shot inside the church as he vows to change his life.

One man who should not escape praise is that of Eddie Redmayne who is excellent as Marius. The raw emotion he portrayed in his performance of ‘Empty Chairs And Empty Tables’ is only matched by Hathaway’s ‘I Dreamed A Dream’. Hooper used the power of the close-up to great effect for both performances, so the audience really got to feel the emotions the characters were expressing in those moments. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter also linked up very well as the scheming Thénardiers. Bonham Carter took a backseat to Cohen's skillful comedic performance, however the blend worked excellently despite Cohen's slightly questionable French accent.  

Russell Crowe's singing voice is one of few major criticisms that has been made about the film. Although Crowe is the weakest vocalist, his stage presence and manner sees him get away with it. As a character Javert is not meant to be liked. His ruggedness, both vocally and physically, helps turn this disadvantage in to a positive.

Tom Hooper has kicked the year of cinema off with an all mighty bang. Powerful, captivating and cinematically beautiful. The film deserves all the praise it gets.

 9/10

Review: Quartet

Dustin Hoffman got behind the camera to direct the mature, quirky comedy drama 'Quartet', starring Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly.

The film revolves around a retirement home where retired musicians go to spend the rest of their days. However they face a battle each year to keep the home open and perform an annual gala to raise the funds. The home gets a surprise new resident in the name of Jean Horton (Maggie Smith), the once world famous opera singer. Her arrival unsettles a few feathers with her diva ways and the reunion with former husband Reignald Paget (Tom Courtenay) who also happens to be a resident at the home. The gala hits problems and with ticket sales slow it is put forward that the famous opera quartet of Paget, Bond, Cissy Robson (Pauline Collins) and Horton perform their famous musical number Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ . Troubled relationships and problems forgetting the past mean this proposed reunion is not, at least at first, an harmonious prospect for all.

The charismatic Wilf Bond, played by the excellent Billy Connolly, brings a cheeky but harmless humour to the movie with sexual innuendos galore throughout. Michael Gambon is superb as the arrogant director of the gala and fellow resident, Cederic Livingston, a pain in the backside to all who live at the home. Cissy Robison is the sweetheart of the house, but is clearly starting to lose her memory at a rapid rate, whilst Reignald Paget plays the more serious, yet fragile, member of the quartet. Clearly still hurting from his relationship with Horton, Paget learns to let go of the past, as does Horton herself, who finds it especially hard to accept her status as a retiree.

This is not your typical retirement home and nor is it your typical mature comedy. It may be an old folks home, but its residents still exude youthful energy and charisma that is contagious. The movie is a charming, yet quirky, piece of cinema that will surprise you. You will enjoy it more than you think. I certainly did.

7/10.